Sequin everywhere!

As I've mentioned before, I'm doing a lot of shaker stuff lately. I took my fuse tool and went all out making gift tags, Project Life cards, and these:

I'm super excited about these shaker money pockets! Looks like I won't need to buy presents for gift cards for a while. These pockets are so much fun to make and to play with! I can't wait to show these off at the next craft show (which is in two weeks). You can find these also on my Etsy store. 

Updating everywhere

As I mentioned in my previous post, I got a new planner for 2016. I've been using it and love it! I'm ordering the binder from PTI this week, along with any of their new releases that I like. Sad to say, nothing really peaked my interest right now. That's ok, my wallet will be happy.

I've also took the time to update my craft room! I finally put all the Christmas crafty tools away. I've also bought new cubes to store my 12x12 scrapbook paper. Thank goodness I did that - the room looks sooooo much better without paper everywhere!

Additionally, I've went through my inventory and put ALL Christmas away! I'm so proud of myself for putting the holidays back into its neat space. Now that the holiday is put away, I was able to go through and dig out my creations for the Spring/Summer craft shows.

Lastly (man, I've been so productive!), I'm slowly updating my Etsy store. Please visit! Last summer (wow, that seems so long ago...), I posted some shaker pocket cards for ProjectLife and people really liked them. Got lots of complements! So, I decided to do a line of shaker products. Here are the firsts few:

I hope to add more through out the week! Thanks for stopping by!

2016 already?!

Happy New Year!!! Wow, it's already 7 days into 2016! I'm so behind on all my craftiness! One of my new year resolution is to blog more and keep up with the crafty world!

So, I finally received my new Hero Arts Milwaukee Heat Gun!

This heating tool is fabulous! It heats up quickly like all the reviews have described. BIG thank you to my loving boyfriend who totally supports me and my craftiness! So happy!

I purchased a new planner for 2016 from PTI. I'm a planner user. I'm excited that I can be a crafty with my planner too! There are two versions: spiral-bind and binder. 

 

I'm also a binder user (even for school stuff... never a spiral bind, which gets worn out so easily). I didn't want to spend extra money to get a new binder (even though I really like them from PTI), and thinking that I can I have these mini binders in my office supplies, I decided to get the binder version. Little did I know that, of course PTI has to make their own binder that is not quite standard size! Now I have to get PTI's binder. I'm not thrill about spending more money, at the same time, I really like the this:

This looks so classy! I like the white one too. My friend, Ashley, got the white one and it's gorgeous. Knowing me, I'm going to the white all dirty; black is a good choice. So guess this binder is also on my wish list (a wish that will be fulfilled within the next few weeks, haha!). 

A few more things to continue from my 2015 wish list (continuing from last post...):

4) Couture Color Winter 2015 Collection from The Ton

Most of my inks are from Stampin' Up inks and a few Hero Arts (HA) and Simon Says Stamps (SSS). As much as I want to expand my HA and SSS inks, they have way too many colors! But these collection from The Ton is not too bad. The colors are beautiful - all 31 of them! That rose gold bangle pigment ink is so lovely. The price is $200 for the whole collection.

5) Mini Distress Ink Pads Kits 

I have half of the distress ink collection. I'd love to complete the the set.

6) Die-namics Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Square STAX from My Favorite Things

These little square are so cute! The diagonal stitches really add to the design and accents the squares so well! I've seen so many cards using these and I really want to try them out myself. MFT also have the rectangle version as well. 

That's all for now! Thanks for stopping by! I hope to post some crafty projects soon!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Wow, has it been soooo busy! It's December already and I have yet to do my gift list for friends and family. I'm not sure what I want to make yet. I made a TON of cards and little gift items for the craft shows; however, I don't want to give out those items... I feel like that would be cheating. I want to make something unique instead of just giving "inventory" as gifts. But on the other hand, I'm running out of creative juice here... this will be tough!

Nonetheless, I did get my self an early Christmas gift -  Furetake Fude Real Brush Pens!

I am super excited about these! Bought them on Amazon (free shipping - thanks to my boyfriend's Prime ;)) I've been watching videos and reading blogs from other crafters about watercoloring. Ashley got these over the summer and I played with them. I can't wait to put my new colors into action. 

The next item I'm also super excited about is the Hero Arts Milwaukee Heat Gun!

I wasn't intending to get this, even though I need a new heating tool for some time now. I have a cheap one that takes a while to heat up and it's starting to tarn/rust around the metal tip. Anyhow, my boyfriend recently asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Although there wasn't really anything specific that I wanted, I asked for this heat gun. I didn't think he would get it, but he did! He got it from Ellen Huston. 

There are a few new stamps I want to add to my stamping wish list:

1) Luna Animals from Mama Elephant 

  

These are so adorable! I've bought the Luna Extra set and Lucky Envelope die from Mama Elephant already. I'm looking forward to making my own 紅包 (red envelope) for Chinese New Year. Then, i saw Vera's red envelope with the critters; now I really want to get these critters too!

2) Oriental Orchid from Altenew

 

I love orchids! I started caring for two orchids this year. They were neglected and left to die, so I took them in. I have never had orchids before; this was quite the learning experience. The good news is, they're both growing strong and new roots/buds are coming in! I saw so excited to see these new stamps from Altenew. I'm not Korean, but I really like it when I can find good quality stamps in different languages, especially an Asian or sand-scripts languages. These stamps are definitely on my wish list! 

3) Autumn Foliage from The Ton

 

I think these are absolutely gorgeous and stunning. The layering ink really brings out the details of each leaf. These leaves can be used for any occasions and various flower stamps from different stamp companies. I think these would make great accents or background for any type of floral pattern. 

That's all for now. I'll keep you posted on the next three items on my stamping wish list on my next post!

Almost Advent

Wow, this past month has gone by way too fast! I've been busy with craft shows on weekends and school stuff during the week. There's no time to do anything else! (or so it seems...)

Being at craft shows and seeing other crafters doing holiday stuff has really inspired me to make an advent calendar. I've never used one before, let alone make one! Nonetheless, I thought this would be a good project on the side. And TA-DA:

 It's a 6"x6" cube; made with 24 matchboxes. Each drawer slide out for each day before Christmas. And, for Christmas day, there is an extra big box on the top for more goodies on that very day! Here's the "back" side:

Technically, there is no "front" or "back." This calendar will need to be rotated as the days go by. Here's what it looks like with the drawers pulled out and the top opened. Each matchbox is the same size; they are all a little over 3" deep.

If I'm up for it, maybe I'll make another one to sell at the craft show! :)

First show of the season!

I've been MIA due to teaching and prepping for my first show of the season.  The show was small and local, but I'm was so nervous yet excited. Plus, the weather was not helping. The event was suppose to be outdoors, but it was raining and pouring at the beginning. I didn't know what to expect, especially it's so early in the season. Here's my set up:

My booth was against the wall (not ideal, but oh well). One side was all card stuff and the other are various paper crafts. 

The event turned out well. Better than I had hoped! Can't wait for the next show in a few weeks! I'm intending to post more of my crafts and shows in the near future. 

Spotlight Surprise!

Happy World Card Making Day! And what a super pleasant surprise; I'm featured in the recent Simon Says Stamp's Spotlight for my previous blog post!

As for this week, the set of notecards I made below is entered into their Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes and their main blog: World Card Making Day.

I stamped, die cut, and colored all these little cute foxes a while ago. It's time for me to put them to good use. I decided to make sets of notecards. They turned out so cute! I can't wait to use them and send them to people.

The weather is kinda gloomy here in Michigan, so my room is very dark. My apologies for the dark photos. Here's a closer look:

The fox is from Lawn Fawn: Into the Woods. I used Tim Holtz Stencil: Dot Fade for the background. Then I used some Heidi Swapp Shine Ink (navy, white, & gold) for the random droplets. You can't see the white droplets on the photo, but it really brings a shimmer in the light. 

I have the deer and chipmunk cut and colored as well. I think I might use them just like this fox. Happy crafting!